Farmed fish in South Chungcheong's Cheonsuman Bay will take a "summer vacation" underwater starting this year.
South Chungcheong Province said Wednesday that it will designate and operate a "wolhajang (summer refuge water)" for the first time on the West Coast to prevent damage to farmed fish caused by recurring high water temperatures in summer. The measure, the first of its kind on the West Coast, is expected to minimize high-water-temperature damage at the cage fish farms in Cheonsuman Bay.
A wolhajang is a temporary summer aquaculture water area designed to reduce damage by moving and managing farmed fish to waters with relatively stable temperatures during periods of high water temperature.
The province designated and announced a 2-hectare sea area off Sapsido-ri (Godaedo) in Boryeong as a wolhajang, and will begin a trial operation from June 8 until the high-water-temperature advisory is lifted.
Korean rockfish was selected as the aquaculture product for the trial operation, and the wolhajang usage period falls within the validity period of the relevant aquaculture license. The wolhajang operation period may be adjusted as needed depending on conditions such as weather and sea conditions.
Wolhajang users must subscribe to aquaculture product disaster insurance (a special clause covering damage to aquaculture products caused by high water temperatures), and Boryeong was authorized to take necessary measures, such as adjusting the operation period, for efficient operation and management.
"We will closely analyze the results of the wolhajang trial operation and then consider expanded operation," a provincial official said.
